68: My Brothers UTI with Russell Howard | Soder Podcast | EP 66

Summary

Podcast Summary

Episode Overview

Podcast: Soder
Host: Dan Soder
Guest: Russell Howard
Episode: 68: “My Brother’s UTI with Russell Howard”
Release Date: February 11, 2025

This lively and genuinely funny episode features comedian and writer Russell Howard as he joins Dan Soder for a deep-dive into the intricacies of stand-up comedy, fatherhood, cultural quirks, internet culture, and the unique bonds formed through family and friendship. The conversation swings between personal anecdotes, sharp observations about evolving comedy scenes in the US and UK, and warm, irreverent humor on everything from childhood gaffes to British nursery rhymes.

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Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Comedy’s Social Icebreakers & Childhood “Bombs”

• The two comedians open up about failed social jokes and the universal experience of thinking you’re funnier than the room thinks you are.
• Dan shares an early memory of making an out-of-turn joke about someone’s nose as a kid, learning the hard way that not every audience is receptive (02:21).

  "That's why you've got a big nose!"
  – Dan, recounting his first big childhood bomb (03:00)

2. Fatherhood and Instant Love

• Russell discusses the pure, instinctive love from his eight-month-old son, likening it to the bond between homeless people and their dogs.
• Both riff on how babies smile for no reason and children’s evolving senses of humor (04:07–05:40).

3. Children with Accents & “Old Soul” Kids

• Comedic take on why British kids always sound wise to Americans, and how little cultural nuances make even the silliest things like "poop" sound sophisticated in other languages (06:41–08:18).

  "British little kids all sound like old souls... you hear a kid with a British accent, you’re like, I bet that kid knows more than I do."
  – Dan (06:57)

4. Internet Comments, Public Horniness & Comedy Marketing

• The rise of public, bizarrely horny comments on social media—especially under attractive women's content. Dan observes that as the internet matures, this behavior will (hopefully) die off (09:35–11:41).

  "I think we live in the golden age of horny public comments."
  – Dan (10:04)

• They lament the era where comedians must market themselves online, sometimes at the cost of craft, and how humility doesn't help sell tickets today (17:28–19:02).

5. Originality, Comedy Gatekeeping, and Recurring Themes

• Both comedians mourn the death of creative gatekeeping—now anyone with marketing savvy (but not necessarily comedic talent) can rise fast, sometimes recycling old premises.

  "Now clubs are like: can you sell? Can you move units?... I think humility killed off in any field... humility does not sell tickets."
  – Dan (17:28–18:12)

• Russell references Gary Shandling's and George Carlin’s philosophies: it's about being more yourself—putting your own filter on well-worn themes (22:42–26:00).

6. Sibling Bonds, Family Roasts & British Darkness

• Russell shares stories about his brother’s merciless (and hilarious) timing, especially their "UTI Christmas" when his brother chimed in unprompted: "And ugly" (58:38).
• Both agree that siblings provide a sounding board and mutual protection during family absurdities.

  "When someone has the courage to be pointlessly mean for the sake of it, just for the joke—there’s something to that."
  – Russell (58:40)

7. Dark Nursery Rhymes and the Empire’s Legacy

• A deep-dive into the origins of British nursery rhymes (“Three Blind Mice” as a murder ballad) and cultural comfort with darkness.

  "If you analyze that, you’re singing this to a sleeping baby... Three blind mice see how they run... who cut off their tail with a carving knife..."
  – Russell (38:45–39:14)

8. National Differences in Culture, Sports, and Food

• Dissecting the madcap paradoxes of America (homeless man outside a dog hotel; glorying in “monster truck rally” culture, etc.).
• Dan asserts: "America is the world’s monster truck rally" (42:22).
• Russell correlates US tribalism and marketing with pop culture ("Trump is the dip of America" 43:27) and describes the uniquely tribal nature of British football fans versus US sports fans (46:40–49:10).

9. Comedy as Therapy & Classroom Trials

• Both reflect on using humor to not feel “crazy"—for Dan as an only child in a one-parent home, comedy was his way to stay sane and make connections at school.

  "My favorite thing in the world was getting kicked out in the hallway—because it meant I was killing."
  – Dan (61:16)

• Russell and Dan agree: great teachers see the difference between a genuine troublemaker and a witty kid needing an outlet (62:13–62:38).

10. Stand-Up, Specials, and the Ever-Changing Scene

• Russell discusses filming his 8th special at the London Palladium (72:31), the unique challenges of taping in arenas vs. theaters, and the thrill of performing in New York/overseas.
• Comparisons with comics like Nate Bargatze, Chappelle, and Bill Burr about how to “play the room” authentically (74:00–74:31).

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Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

On Social Media Horniness

• "It's a forever thing that fell out of your horny mouth."
  – Dan (11:09)

On Sporting Chants

• "If Arsenal was playing Manu... Arsenal fans would be singing ‘Does she take it up the ass?’ non stop.”
  – Russell, on British football chants about Beckham (48:08–48:16)

On Gatekeeping & Comedy Quality

• "Now it's, how good is your car commercial? Now clubs are like, can you sell? Can you, can you move units?"
  – Dan (31:58)
• "The whole point of stand up is to come for the jokes."
  – Dan (51:03)

On Sibling Timing

• "And ugly." (in response to a question about their aunt’s health)—pricelessly dry British family timing.
  – Russell’s brother (58:38)

On Childhood Comedy

• "It's not even our animal." (6-year-old Russell, cleaning his sister's rabbit hutch)
  – Russell (60:12)

On Stand-Up Brotherhood

• "That's the cool thing about the brotherhood, Sisterhood of stand up. When you see somebody, like, oh, that person's hilarious. I want to be that person's friend."
  – Russell (78:25)

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Timestamps for Important Segments

• Icebreakers, Social Bombs, Childhood Jokes: 00:51–03:37
• Fatherhood — Baby Smiles & Comedians as Dads: 03:49–05:49
• British vs. American Kids; Linguistic Comedy: 06:07–08:18
• Internet Public Horniness and Comedy Marketing: 09:35–18:12
• Originality & Recurring Comedy Themes: 22:42–26:00
• Darkness in British Culture: 38:35–40:13
• America’s “Monster Truck Rally” Identity: 42:22–44:25
• Siblings, Family Roasts, UTI Christmas: 58:38–61:22
• Comedy as Survival in Childhood and School: 61:06–62:55
• Filming and Releasing Comedy Specials: 72:31–75:09
• Stand-Up Community & British/American Scenes: 78:25–79:46

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Episode Tone & Final Thoughts

The discussion is infectiously playful, loyal to both comedians’ observational wit and willingness to poke fun at themselves and their countries. Russell and Dan's rapport is easy, warm, and quick, with each riff building off the other’s stories—making the episode a must-listen for fans of either comic or anyone interested in the inside world of stand-up across cultures.

For more, check out Russell’s new special (now streaming) and dive into his extensive library of previous specials. As Dan says toward the end:

“That’s a great way to start friendship—mutual respect. Oh yeah, I love what you do.” (79:16)

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For more info and links to Russell’s latest special:
Check the episode description or visit Russell Howard's official website.

Transcript

[A]

Alabama. I've never done shows in Alabama. Well, guess what? That's about to change. February 20th through the 22nd, I will be in Huntsville, Alabama, at levity live for five shows. Grand Rapids, Michigan. I will see you March 8th. I'll be headlining a show for Gilda's Fest. One show. Come on out, California. It's such a. I don't have a singing voice. I have a voice for stand up. And thank God that's what I'm doing in California. February 28th, I will be at the Balboa Theater in San Diego. March 1st, I will be at the United Theater in Los angeles. And then March 2nd, that's a Sunday. I will be at the palace of Fine Arts in San Francisco. All those tickets are available. Dancehoter.com go get them. Right now. We just, like, straight up, just start talking.

[B]

But do you know what I mean? You know when you just kind of think, this is gonna be such a great icebreaker?

[A]

Dude. I. I mean, I think that's something that. That not only comedians, but I think everybody goes through socially, where you're kind of like. It's the same way. We have a. Like an idea for a bit, and it eats on stage.

[B]

Yeah.

[A]

Where you go, this is really funny to me. And then you say it to people and they go, I don't find that funny. And you go, yeah, but it's like doing press my.

[B]

I did that during the pandemic. I bet we all had this where your sort of notebook became your friend, your confident, or, you know, you just sit there. And I found such joy in kind of writing. Rediscovered how much fun it was. I had this whole bit about. It was like. You remember when women were having a go Adele for losing weight.

[A]

Yeah. They were mad at her because she furious.

[B]

And so I was kind of writing these jokes. I wrote this whole scenario where there's no realm in which Adele's body would ever upset me.

[A]

Yeah.

[B]

And it was all these, like. And the one thing is I was like. Like, if I was an. You know, a restaurant, and Adele had sort of like this artificial fin, and I was swimming, and she kind of behind me, she's pretending to be a shark. And so this whole thing that I found so funny, but just this. It was that moment where the audience were like, hang on. Did you sit and think of this?

[A]

Yeah. Do you know what I mean? Like, given away.

[B]

The contract is gone. You're like, you've.

[A]

You've.

[B]

I've had this.

[A]

I've had too many times where you have to, like, Almost. And people do this in normal conversation. It's not just comedians that do this, but like you say something that in your head you're like, this is hilarious. And then they go, what? Yeah, that first. Like, what? And you're like, man. I remember when I was like, I must have been like 8 or 9 years old and I was with my mom and my stepdad and we were at. My mom is.

[B]

As soon as you talk about your youth, I picture that scene where you're.

[A]

Smoking, ripping a butt. Yeah, yeah, mom, no, I wasn't smoking. I started smoking. I was 12. Okay, so this is four years before. But I. We're at my mom's. We're at my mom's friend's house and there was like a guy that was like funny, like my mom's friend's friend. So it was like kind of like a dinner party. But I was the only kid there and this guy was really nice, funny, really joking around. And I'm like 8 years old and we're all sitting around and I go, that's why you got a big nose. And my mom went, what? And everyone like turned to me and they're like, what the fuck, dude? And I remember that was the first time in my life that I was like, I thought I was funny. You guys didn't think that. I thought we were having a good time. And then you're just eight and you're like, ah.

[B]

Am I an asshole or you dig deeper.

[A]

Yeah, what are you, a Jew?

[B]

Like, whoa, what's your problem, mom, you fat bitch?

[A]

Mom's a slut. She's like, this guy's on. These are just unloading the barrels and you go, and another thing, I don't think you pay taxes. I'm going to like, this kid is a problem.

[B]

Just sat in the corner snitching.

[A]

Well, you got. Now you have an eight month old son.

[B]

I do, yeah.

[A]

And how old? So you have two kids?

[B]

Nope, just one.

[A]

Just one. Oh, man. So is it.

[B]

It's great.

[A]

Yeah, it's.

[B]

Do you know what's lovely? It's. It's similar. I imagine how homeless people feel with their dog that. That dog loves them.

[A]

Yeah.

[B]

And it's that lovely feeling where you get smiled at for having done nothing other than be yourself.

[A]

Yeah.

[B]

It's so rare that you get a smile and you haven't earned it.

[A]

Yeah.

[B]

So lovely, like just to walk in the room. And it's a similar thing with your dog's tail that your baby looks nuts. Exactly. It's just like, I Love you. Look at you. Look at everything about you.

[A]

Yeah. Joe List, his son is a year old now. Marty just turned a year old, and he said that now he's starting to get jokes to work on his son where he'll, like, do bits and his kid will be like. Like, laugh. And you're like, that's got to be a very rewarding experience.

[B]

But that's such the comedian here.

[A]

Yeah. Just feel like bits are working.

[B]

But what's funny is when it's. When it stops. When you have certain moves, like.

[A]

And that's what we're talking about, something that you think is funny.

[B]

Yeah.

[A]

And they're like, nah, it was funny.

[B]

A week ago, dad.

[A]

Yeah. This is a baby.

[B]

Things move. I've evolved. But the funniest thing, so, like, blowing raspberries. I didn't know. Is a way of developing speech. So babies, it's their way of beginning to talk. So he just sits in his cot doing that. And sometimes he forgets how to do it. And that's the funniest thing you've ever seen? Yeah. It's just him go trying to will his body. Yeah. How do I do it again?

[A]

What is that? Our. Our niece is. She's like 18 months old now, and she's. She's got, like, mama puppy. She can, like, say certain things, but her whole speech is just like. And you're like. You're definitely talking.

[B]

Yeah.

[A]

You're just not nailing it yet. It's funny to watch. It's almost like the same as, like, when someone talks in their sleep, when they're like, puppy. And you're like, oh, I caught one of those.

[B]

Yeah.

[A]

That's what it's like watching her walk around. Charlotte doesn't really have this yet. She's like, are you gonna.

[B]

Why they. So I've got. One of my nephews is 10, and he's like an old soul. And he's. He's gone through three phases. He wanted to be a train driver, then an astronaut, now he wants to be a midwife. So he is fascinated with my wife having given birth to a child. But he's obviously learned all these phrases from books he's read. So during Christmas, he turned to my wife, apropos of nothing, and went, of my son. Is he still on the breast?

[A]

He's like 10 years old.

[B]

He's 10 years old.

[A]

And it was like, excuse me. But it was just like.

[B]

Like, it was like this.

[A]

I don't know, Doctor, is he still taking breasts? So funny. Also, British little kids sound and Obviously, you're British, so you don't know this, but as an American, British little kids all sound like old souls.

[B]

Yes.

[A]

They all sound. You hear a kid with a British accent, you're like, I bet that kid knows more than I do.

[B]

Yeah. It's funny. There's that. I know what you mean. Because, like, we like American kids. Like, just their voices travel well.

[A]

I.

[B]

You think, oh, my God. That's what we hear. Whereas an English boy would be like, oh, my gosh.

[A]

Yeah.

[B]

And it's like, oh, oh, bother.

[A]

And you're like, oh, my God. It is very funny to think because, like, little American kids just inherently sound stupid. They're just kind of like, I want.

[B]

To go to the park.

[A]

And you're like, shut the up, you idiot. But little British kids are like, mommy. And you're like, oh, listen to them.

[B]

But it's funny. It's a bit like when you see Italian pensioners and they're doing all this.

[A]

Yeah.

[B]

Do you know what I mean? So it looks like they're, like, passionate.

[A]

Look at this little passionate Italian kid philosophy. Yeah.

[B]

But, you know, they're saying the same as I near the pool, you know, there's nothing.

[A]

But there's something poop.

[B]

You know, I'm making the poop. Yeah.

[A]

And you're like, look at this little. This little Italiano.

[B]

I know this. The Italians, it's like, I play football with a guy called Marco is Italian.

[A]

Yeah.

[B]

And if you score a good goal, he'll speak to you in Italian. And it just. So I scored.

[A]

It's gotta feel good, though.

[B]

So I scored the other day, and he went, mamma mia. And he'd just go again. But in our language, it's like if you saw your. Your missus, she looked hot. And you went, oh, mom.

[A]

Oh, you're so creepy, mommy. Oh, Mommy, I never thought Mama. Me in English and you just going, oh, mommy.

[B]

And they go, yeah, but the Italians are just saying.

[A]

You heard it here first. Russell thinks Italians want to their mommy. That's got to be someone saying a compliment in their native tongue. When you do something right.

[B]

Yes.

[A]

Is because that's a moment that you know that you're connected. They're connected to their. Like when they, like. Like when someone takes a bite of something and they're like, holy shit. But if you spoke, like, Italian or Spanish or something.

[B]

Yes.

[A]

That's, like, funny when you see. When women are so beautiful that you'll see guys speak Spanish with this, like, oh, oh. You know, they're like, oh, adios, meal oh man, this guy's going nuts.

[B]

But then having said that again, I saw this bit you did the other day. The. It made me laugh. But it's about reading the comments when.

[A]

Oh yeah, hot, hot women.

[B]

And it's that media. Bella.

[A]

Oh my gosh.

[B]

It's such a great observation of that. Desperate. Just masturbating.

[A]

It's your penis breaking through. In, in. In the United States, like high school football games, right?

[B]

Yeah.

[A]

They'll have this thing where they'll like when. When the team's about to run on the field, they have this giant banner that says like, go Cougars. And they run through it and it's like. And everyone's excited. That is that for like boners when they're so horny that they just break through the wall and they're like, I need it. It's like they're like through that comment. I think we live in the golden age of horny public comments.

[B]

Yes.

[A]

Like by the time your son is in his 20s, people will be so social media literate that they will know not to put horny comments like that online.

[B]

Yes.

[A]

Whereas now guys are just like, dude, like I can click your profile and see who you are. Yeah. If you're like, I need you. And then you click and you're like, what?

[B]

I know it's insane, but it, but it's also like, why would you let your inner monologue free on your keyboard?

[A]

But that's what everyone does. I know, I know. But that's what everyone does. That's what, that's the point where that is the smoking inside of the Internet right now where you're like, well, of course you can't smoke it. The idea that restaurants used to believe that there could be a smoking and non smoking section when you're under the same roof and the air is trapped, that's the same as going like, I'm going to say what's in my inner monologue on the Internet. Yeah. Cuz you're like, you're just putting that out there in a way.

[B]

But it becomes so instantly tangible. It's like it's forever. And it was just a thing that fell out of your horny mouth. But it's. But it's what I love about it.

[A]

That's such a good way of saying that it's. It's a forever thing that fell out of your horny mouth.

[B]

You know, but. But that's why. But it's like when you say so for Marco to speak in Italian. I really like that. But in your ciao. Bella. Bella. Like, it's. It's this desperate bloke summoning what will impress her. It's like, yeah, I know different languages. That's all he's saying. Like, it's so sad.

[A]

And a lot of the times, it's like, now that we're learning more and more how people manipulate on the Internet, or how you could tell, like, sometimes these profiles of beautiful aren't even that woman. Someone just found a bunch of pictures of her and, like, put it online and then these guys are doing that. What's crazy to me is, do they ever think it's going to work?

[B]

Well, exactly, yeah.

[A]

Do they ever think a woman's going to be like, oh, Mia bello, what are you doing?

[B]

This is it. But they just. They must just be.

[A]

I'm going to follow him back and DM him, and then we're going to fall in love. You're like, brother, you are. You're throwing shit out a wall.

[B]

Yeah. You are a naive, sad fisherman.

[A]

Yeah. And there's no. You're not even fishing in an actual sea.

[B]

Yeah.

[A]

You're just fucking casting it into a field. And then you're like, I'm going to catch something eventually. You're like, maybe a boot, if you're lucky.

[B]

But that's it. It's like this sort of juxtaposition of like, a river runs through it and fucking hell.

[A]

Yeah.

[B]

Casting it.

[A]

And it's just, like, trying. I would. I would want to know the stats, like, the actual stats of who has gotten a beautiful woman in any way to respond or to interact. Because a lot of times with that.

[B]

I mean, it is zero. Nobody's ever, ever, surely.

[A]

Well, I'll tell you right now.

[B]

Okay.

[A]

Where that bit came from was right there was.

[B]

You're not me, Bella.

[A]

No, I'm not Mia Bella at all. I was. I was watching guys comment, and I'm not gonna say who on.

[B]

Everyone's gonna try and guess.

[A]

Oh, yeah, they will. This is the fun part. Here's my little clues. Get ready, my little detectives. But there was a beautiful woman that was putting out, like, content, like, stand up. I'll say it. Stand up. And the guys were going like, this is so funny. This is so. You are so funny. And you're like, probably intelligent, and you're like, but it's not. But here. And here's the thing. No offense to that person, but I'm saying the jokes weren't good, but these guys are going like, where's your Netflix special? You better. And you're like, and then you would see Instagram says this liked by the author. So it's like she knows what she's doing. So she's like going back and being like, thanks. I thought of that myself. And they're like, it's great. But what I wanted to do was DM these guys and go, where is it funny?

[B]

Right? Yeah, yeah.

[A]

Tell me exactly where the punchline is, cuz I don't believe you. Yeah, if it was funny, I'd go like, that's fine or whatever. If she's hot, then you want to say something. But like, when it's void of any humor.

[B]

Yeah, yeah, yeah. I often find that way. If you ever go to the theater, me and my brother are obsessed with this because like, we used to have a member of our. My sister was married, she's now divorced. Her husband used to do musical theater.

[A]

Okay.

[B]

So we would get dragged along to musical theater.

[A]

That's a whole different counterculture that if you're not ready for it.

[B]

But we came up through like our public laughter, was comedy clubs. I started doing comedy when I was 18. My brother used to come to comedy clubs at 16.

[A]

Yeah.

[B]

So that. So that is his barometer for Comedy Store in London. Someone says so funny. The laugh is like. And that thing of suddenly being in a room where audiences are going, yes, that, that laugh.

[A]

That, yes.

[B]

And you're just looking around going, have I gone mad? Because it could be that it. That they genuinely think it's funny and you've gone mad. And that's some. That I sometimes think. Yeah, I know.

[A]

I've never thought of that.

[B]

I never thought of like, oh, we meant like. Because the amount of time we're living in a golden age of, you know, bad comedy and you kind of watch it and you go, fuck, am I mad?

[A]

Yes.

[B]

Am I mad?

[A]

I have that feeling. And I think, I think that is not just people that work in comedy. I think it's people who enjoy comedy. I think they're. I think, I think comedy specifically is like rock and roll or hip hop or, or a different kind of performance where like, there are people who get into it, who get into it and like, know what they. Like, they know who the greats are. They almost kind of study it. And then there's like this fan of like, there's comedy fans and then there's people that just have never watched it. And that's that kind of laugh where they go like. It's a polite laughter of like, I think I'm supposed to laugh. It's a pleasantry yeah. It's like, ah, but it's not a thing where you go like, holy, that's hilarious. Yeah, you just go like, now add in a very beautiful woman doing it and horny men who are alone on the Internet and you just have a recipe for disaster.

[B]

But in this. But then also that's, that's how magnificent the Internet is that you're then this kind of weird detective of those people.

[A]

Yeah, I was putting out cigarettes. I'm like, this thing goes all the way to the top. Like this thing doesn't fucking stop. Gotta watch. You got. I'm surprised you didn't come in here and there's a cork board with like different string going. And I'm like, this thing goes to places you had no idea you are.

[B]

You're like Claire Danes in Homeland.

[A]

Emotionally, I'm pretty similar. I fucking really do fall apart the way Claire Danes does. But you know what it is, is it's, it's probably, it's probably a little jealousy. It's probably a little hater in me being like.

[B]

But it's that thing, isn't it? It's like, it's just lingering in like we've never been exposed to more. Like being a comedian now is like, I don't know if you have this in America, but remember like the local car dealer that used to record his own adverts?

[A]

Absolutely.

[B]

That's comedy now. But it never, we never, we never had to promote ourselves. Yeah, you just did the thing, you rocked up to the gig and it kind of, you know, the owner would say, we'll get you back and blah, blah, blah, and things occur. Whereas now you have to be your own PR person, which goes against. Comics are show offs. You also go, hey, how was the gig? It was fine. Which means the gig went great.

[A]

It killed off. What the Internet has done in any field has killed off humility. Because humility does not sell tickets. Humility does not exactly. It just goes like if you have a chef that goes like. And you're like, how's your duck larange? He goes, it's all right.

[B]

Yeah.

[A]

But then you, you walk away. You go, that guy's like certified from the cordon blue. It's like the best duck you'll ever have in your life. But he wants to keep himself humble, so he goes, I don't know, I could have made it better. Because often I think a lot of times when people make good stuff, they are. They don't want to, they don't want to let it go yet because they Keep going, like, I can make it a little bit better. I can make it a little bit better. And then you have to have someone that goes, give me that. And then they put it out. And then the people go, this is great.

[B]

Yeah.

[A]

Versus the culture now, which is like, oh, you have diarrhea. Shit all over the place.

[B]

Yeah.

[A]

Because the more you shit, the more stuff. That's why the term content has always really bugged me. Because you're like, are we trying to be funny? Because in any field, I mean, you see this with doctors, you see this with lawyers, you see this with police officers. There becomes this thing when you start where you go, like, what is my mission statement for comics? How can I be the funniest I can be for lawyers? It's like, how can I help people that need legal representation? And then it gets murky. Then the waters get murky. And then you realize, like, well, I can't just be just funny. I can for the most part, but I have to advertise. I have to. And then you get the people that go, I don't give a. About being funny. Watch me advertise this.

[B]

Yeah.

[A]

And they do like a car commercial that you're like, he's Superman. And he's like, fly on in for the best deals you'll have. And then my car commercials like this. Yeah, we got some Hondas.

[B]

Yeah. You know, I don't want to bother you, but, you know, the cars are good. They're fine. But it, but then also it kind of goes the other way because the. When you get into. You just can't fight that moment when you're in front of a crowd and five minutes in where the audience get this, this person. Dude doesn't have it, but, you know, versus somebody that's kind of just gonna pull up trees and that. That's the. And then the irony being you, if you're like an actual comic, you don't want to give that away because you're too in the room.

[A]

Yeah.

[B]

To worry about filming stray bits of. Where you're basically, you know, a watering can for broken flowers.

[A]

Yeah. A lot of it is. I. I wish I could say that people, like get up there and they go like, oh, this is shit. But I think audiences now just go like, it's that what you were talking about with the musical theater laughter where they go like, yeah. And then they leave and they, they go like, is that right? I don't know if I like stand up comedy. And you're like, well, if you went and ate at a restaurant, and they made you, like, subpar food and you left. You'd probably be like, I don't know if I like that cuisine. And you're like, I don't know if you had it. I don't know if you had the best thing. Because now. I mean, you're right, dude. I keep trying to think about what my car commercial is like, and I really am like, just like, well, that's it. We have 2% APR financing. If. I don't know, it's like a pretty good deal.

[B]

But it's. I mean, I. Exactly same. It's like just, you know, got. I've got this special out and, you know, so. So what's it like? You're like, I was just, you know. And I keep saying there's loads of big, fat funny jokes.

[A]

Yeah.

[B]

And. But that's kind of it, really. It's just. There's lots of stuff that's really funny about lots of things. And it's just like, fuck, that sounds like the worst sell.

[A]

Because there used to be. I think what happened is the people that used to work in marketing that were very valuable. They were very, very valuable for people like us because they were the people that you would tap in and go, like, how do I sell this? And they go, I got an idea. This is what you do. But now those people go like, well, why am I letting this fucker make all the money? I'll just be the comedian and I'll just market it.

[B]

Yeah.

[A]

And I just won't be good at it. I just won't be good at comedy. I'll just be doing regular observational bits that have been done 30 times before. I think about that a lot with.

[B]

Like, what you think about Richard Pryor. Like, you know, he was, you know, he was busy. He was, you know, he's writing. He was right. He was burning himself writing jokes on a lot of.

[A]

He was freebasing, a lot of free basing.

[B]

But he just didn't have time to.

[A]

Kind of go, you know, to come up with the marketing, which. And I'm not saying marketing people aren't valuable. I think they're incredibly valuable. But there are marketing people that are so smart that they can just go like, oh, well, here's always. The thing is, I've noticed recently, and this is something I've been, like, working on is. And you're probably the same way when you have a bit. You go like, you'll think of something. And you go, oh, that's like a good joke. And then you go, now so and so did kind of a similar bit.

[B]

Yeah.

[A]

10 years ago. Yeah. I don't want to do that. I want to. That for a lot of these people that were, like, into marketing, that got into comedy, that doesn't exist. Yeah. Now they go, that's a good idea. I'm going to do that. And you go, that's like an old Bill Cosby bit from, like, 1983. And they're like, I don't give a fuck and my fans don't give a fuck.

[B]

It's a weird one that, though, isn't it? Because, like, it's frustrating sometimes when you and I know lots of great comedians that get in their own way as well. We got.

[A]

That's my problem is I get my own way and I go, I can't do that. It's not original enough. And then you're like, like, well, but it's.

[B]

It's sort of that thing, isn't it? Of, like, the. There's going to be recurring themes, but you. It's. There's a brilliant bit in the Gary Shandling documentary where he goes, you just got to be more Gary.

[A]

Yes.

[B]

And I love that. It's sort of whatever makes you funny to your mates.

[A]

Yeah. And that's what.

[B]

And it's. It's digging into that. And it's. I remember that story you told me, and it was like, remember in Edinburgh.

[A]

Yeah.

[B]

We. We went for breakfast.

[A]

Yeah.

[B]

And you were telling me that story about your stepdad forcing you to watch him swim.

[A]

Oh, yeah.

[B]

And you've since done it in your special.

[A]

Yeah, yeah.

[B]

And I feel. Right. Really kind of jet. I felt, like, properly sort of privileged because I was. I remember seeing that as an embryonic.

[A]

Oh, just like a story. Yeah. Just a form of conversation. But.

[B]

But. But. And then when it became its final thing, it was so funny and structured and lots of jokes inside it.

[A]

Yeah.

[B]

And that's kind of what it is. But you could probably go, well, you know, other comedians have done stuff about stepdad.

[A]

Yeah.

[B]

Do you know what I mean?

[A]

I've also, like, talked about the guys my mom has dated before, and I've been like. Like, there's a.

[B]

Like, Like. But like, any of your audience is gonna go, oh, this feels a bit like.

[A]

Yeah.

[B]

You know, they just.

[A]

I mean, it's.

[B]

It's.

[A]

It is a fun way to, like when you're shitting on other comics go, like, what are you doing another joke about your dead dad? And you go, yeah, yeah, I am. But.

[B]

But that's also. That's such a Like, it happens at the Edinburgh Festival in the uk, we had this phrase called the Dead Dad Show.

[A]

Oh, I know.

[B]

It was that thing where you just kind of go, oh, did your dad die? Yeah. And you know what? It was massive.

[A]

Yeah.

[B]

Broke my heart. So it's probably going to be part of me forever.

[A]

Like, the people that did and the dead dad thing, and especially at Fringe, it was like knowing that I was taking an hour. About a chunk of it was about my dad dying of alcohol. It was, like, funny to know that I was going to a place where, like, they would break down and cry and be like, never had a catch again with them. And then it's to me, and I'm like, he's a Jimmy Buffett fan. He had a good time. So it felt like a little different. But when I got there and I was like. And I realized you guys had the Dead dad thing, but it was like one of those things where you want to slip back, you know, the Homer Simpson going back into the thing where I was kind of like, hey, I'm doing jokes about my dead dad. You guys do that a lot here.

[B]

But again, it's. It's that kind of snare from, like, certain sections of, like, kind of the press or these weird kind of, like cultural gatekeepers that kind of go, oh, is it like.

[A]

Yeah.

[B]

But again, it's like, well, your Dead dad stuff is gonna be really funny because you're really funny.

[A]

Yeah.

[B]

And it's sort of that. I had a really great chat with Tim Minchin where he. He said something really. He's basically kind of going, well, if you talk, you've been doing stand up for so long now that if you talk about something that you actually care about, you're gonna make it funny on stage because you realize what it's like to be boring.

[A]

Yeah.

[B]

And. And there's nothing like a quiet audience to make your brain go, well, we better kick into here or. Or we're back at school and we're gonna have the U.S. think, think. And you kind of access your funny through a thing you want to say.

[A]

It's. It's one of those things where George Carlin said a similar thing to what Shandling said, where Carlin, in his book, like his last book, he was kind of like, I got to a point where I'd done four specials and I was kind of like, I've talked about everything. Yeah. There's. How do I talk about anything else? And he's like, oh, I'm the filter.

[B]

Yes.

[A]

So it's just it's just I live my life and then how I feel about it. I'm. Find the specific filter.

[B]

Right. Well, that's it. It's like.

[A]

Because you've done how many hours? What's our. What number is this? Like your ninth hour?

[B]

Yeah, something. Yeah. So I had, Let me think. I had three DVDs. No, five.

[A]

I mean that's how long you've been doing comedy. DVD.

[B]

I had five DVDs.

[A]

Five.

[B]

And then two Netflix specials and then so that. Yeah, so five, six, seven, eight.

[A]

Oh, damn. I was one off. If I would have fucking got that, I would have been pretty. I would have. I would have had you say good job in your native tongue, whatever. The British version of well done. And I'm like, I did it. He said it.

[B]

That's the other thing that's frustrating about coming to this country. I wish. I just don't look English. I look like a sort of like a German lesbian. Like boy. But John Oliver. John looks. John is exactly what you want him to be of my people.

[A]

Yeah. Do you know what I mean? He's got the look. He shows up and you go, this is a British. This is a British look on looks alone. You go, you British?

[B]

Yeah, look at that. Gloomy like. And it's.

[A]

This is a guy that moves under clouds comfortably.

[B]

Yeah. But it's like. Yeah, so I've been, I've been doing it for a while, but it's that like. So I've got an eight month old son. So I've got stuff about being a dad that is by. Its like you could attack. You're talking about being a dad, but again it's about being your filter and sort of just trying to. The longer you've been in this, you realize it's like being a. A novelist, isn't it? It's just kind of. Okay, what's my take on being a dad?

[A]

You know they always say like good acting is reacting right. I think that's like, that goes for any sort of creative endeavor. It's like, how are you. You spend years learning how to do this and then you spend. And then, then it becomes just a thing of like. Well, how do you react to it? Yeah, because like we're not having kids, but I'm getting married, we have a dog. And so there's this stuff where you're like, well, how do I react to that? Yeah, what are situation.

[B]

Because like if you don't mind me asking you, you don't want. Why don't you want kids?

[A]

I just don't want kids. We sat down and talked about it and it was kind of like, you know, I think I've got a lot of issues with growing up without a dad that was gone and I don't want to. I, you know, Katie is successful, she's got her own career and I've got my career. And I think it would be really unfair to like we're, we're now it would, we'd have to get science involved.

[B]

Right.

[A]

Like we're at the age where we can't just like have a kid. But it would have to be an effort. And I also think the conversation she and I had about it was it wouldn't feel fair to either one of us if I just went on the road and had a great time and then come home and she's like, cool. Well, I had to put my on pause because this tiny human needs me. Yeah. And then I come in and I'm just fun and I'm just like, yeah.

[B]

You know, it's so my missus is a doctor and it's that thing of. So she's going, she's going back to work in I think September. She's going to go part time. And it's sort of that moment where you realize, oh, I'm going to go part time too.

[A]

Yeah.

[B]

You know, and which. But for me it's kind of as an old man that did DVDs.

[A]

Yeah.

[B]

I kind of, you know, I, I also think you can still get as much out of it by going part time. Well, I don't know. And sitting.

[A]

What's valuable about what you're doing? Because I would say in a sense I'm more part time than I was before because I actually enjoy my life. Now I get to like, I don't.

[B]

As a title of a new special. I actually enjoy my life.

[A]

I actually do enjoy my life in it. But it's like a different thing where I think a lot of the beginning of my career I was fueled by insecurity and fueled for like, fueled by trying to be accepted. Accepted as a stand up, accepted in the New York City scene.

[B]

So. But it's again, it's so. It's so easy to edit someone else's work. But I, I listen to that and I just can't understand that because, because you're. But obviously, you know, I'm not telling the same. That it's not true, but it's that it's so weird. You're so effortlessly funny. You're such a nice guy. But again, you're carrying this weight of like, everyone thinks I'm a cunt. Everyone think, yeah, yeah. And it's, it's, it's weirdly, it's a, I think it's a very British thing. I find that whenever I specifically do gigs in New York, I'll sit in the corner with my notebook and you realize that arrogance and shyness look exactly the same.

[A]

That's all it is.

[B]

So you just kind of sat there quiet, and it's up to somebody to kind of. I had this conversation with Neil Brennan where we were doing, I was doing a gig in Dublin and he saw me and just, and he sort of said to me, he goes, just didn't like, look at your face.

[A]

I mean, here's the thing about Neil is. Neil is one of those guys where he's brilliantly funny. Yeah. He is like, so incredibly smart. And if you only took Neil from how you bumped into him, you'd go, what a, yeah, you go like, what a dickhead. And then you don't realize the depression that he deals with. Well, this is it, the self hatred that he deals with. And you're like, oh, buddy, you're, you're, you're bad as any of us.

[B]

But, but also then we kind of had this, I, he did my podcast, we had a chat, got on great. And it's that interesting thing, isn't it, that you sort of realize we're all scared. Sat backstage at a gig or trying to give off. I'm not scared, but. And when we meet people, it's this weird kind of sometimes, you know, this kindred spirit. Sometimes you kind of like weirdly diametrically opposed. Yeah, it's just all this going on and you. That is the first 10 years of being a comedian.

[A]

Yeah.

[B]

Also you're, you know, it happens a lot in England. Oh, so you're the, you're the new young guy, are you? You know, and. Well, I didn't say that. I was just.

[A]

And we also came up in the time of, I, I, I'd be really interested to see how it is now for young comics, because we came up in a time where there was gatekeepers, where there was like, get Montreal, get into fringe. You'd have these people that were like literal gatekeepers that would go, I think you're funny. Why don't you do Conan? And you're like, oh, I finally can do this. Where now it's, how good is your car commercial? Now clubs are like, can you sell? Can you, can you move units?

[B]

But I also, that's amazing. It's it's good and bad that, isn't it? Because it's so punk.

[A]

Yeah.

[B]

That these gatekeepers.

[A]

Yeah.

[B]

Who did get some things wrong and some people didn't get through and some people did.

[A]

And that's what you're seeing is you're seeing some people that were kind of held back. Explode. Explode. And you're like, good.

[B]

Amazing.

[A]

I wanted to see them do. But then, you know.

[B]

Yeah, well, exactly. So that. That's the thing you sometimes go, maybe. Maybe some sort of gate.

[A]

But I think about. Yeah. You go, can we maybe put a little latch on the gate?

[B]

Just a cat maybe.

[A]

Not a big iron one, just a cattle griddle. Just like a front desk where everyone has to check in. Can we just do a front desk? But I think about your wife being a detector. I think about your wife being a doctor and like, that's a job, though. There has to be insecurities. Your first 10 years, you're going like, am I diagnosing this right. Am I thinking about right versus now where she can go a little more part time? And she comes in and she's like, I know what that looks like. I know what this is.

[B]

But you know the interesting thing, comics and doctors brains are very similar, but they hold useful information. That's the. It's. But it's that same thing.

[A]

Yeah. They're like us, but they actually have stuff that work that should benefit somebody.

[B]

You can see a thing and it links back to a, you know, disease and the medication. And I see her go into a brain in the same way I do for insignificant.

[A]

Yeah.

[B]

So somebody will go, I went on holiday to. To Norwich. Norwich. Here's the three things I know about.

[A]

Women do be shopping.

[B]

Yeah.

[A]

That's how like, it goes in your brain.

[B]

But it is that thing, isn't it?

[A]

Of like.

[B]

But they're very, very similar. And I think that takes a long time to become a good doctor. It takes a long time to be a comic.

[A]

That's what I think is wrong with the culture now is that. That isn't the. It's like. It's like dieting. The. The. The thing about dieting, the entire time humans have been on this planet and we figured this out was it's watch what you eat and exercise.

[B]

Yeah.

[A]

That is like any doctor will. Your wife. Any doctor will be like, yes, you watch your. Watch what you're. The calories you're putting in your body and then burn off those calories and. And you won't be a fat. But now they go like, we got Ozempic, we've got all this stuff where you can cut. And I feel in a way that entertainment is going through that, whether it be comedy or music or anything like that. There's this cool thing of like, oh, you don't have to go get really good at it. Just do it and be exciting about it. Because we all want to find the, the, the sword in the stone. The kid will pull the sword from the stone. We want to find everybody that's like, oh, they're unbelievable. Like, Dave Chappelle is an anomaly. Like started doing stand up at 14, was just a genius the way he did it throughout time. Stevie Wonder is similar that in music. He was his first title called like 16 Year Old Genius and what he called it. Yeah. And he was.

[B]

I like that.

[A]

And he was, he was a 16 year old genius. But that is, I think unfairly a level, like a standard level that people think you have to be at where it's like, no, no, no, you can go get good at something like Louis CK. We'll talk about it. It took him 20 years.

[B]

Yeah, it's very like he's really. He is fascinating because, you know, he was work. He was a writer on Chris Rock and, and Conan and did all the kind of absurd stuff and then eventually his body fit his brain.

[A]

Yeah.

[B]

You know what I mean? Yeah, that he kind of.

[A]

Bro.

[B]

I often think about like Brian Cox from Succession.

[A]

Yeah.

[B]

Like, you know, biggest. One of the biggest TV stars in the world. Done loads of stuff before it, but that role, you're like, nailed it. And it's come to you now when he's probably 65, let's say.

[A]

And that was, that was Louis in his 40s when he just all of a sudden went, my daughter's an. And you're like, oh, I think other parents would agree with that, but no one's called their kid an.

[B]

Yeah.

[A]

And then, and then it became like, that became a standard joke where now you see people go like, my kid's a real dickhead. And you go like, Louie was the first one that did it, mate.

[B]

Well, it's so funny you say that, but it's one of my bugbears because he did it with authenticity and honesty. But when you see people go, oh, my kid's a prick. You kind of go, man, you just. It's. You're selling your child down the river for the easiest. Like.

[A]

Yeah, well, that's how I feel when people go like, yeah, my dumb bitch wife. And you go, I really like when I see enough of those Jokes. I finally go, like, you know, you picked her. Yeah. Like, this isn't like. This is a reflection on. On you. This isn't that, like, granted. Listen, you could get into a fight with your wife and you could have an unbelievable bit that is real and authentic. And you go, like, right, I'm not wrong in this. But when the guys just do it all the time, you go, like, I think you're the problem in the relationship.

[B]

Can you imagine? I would love to see that online. You know, normally it says comedian destroys audience. Imagine if the thing it said, audience member makes comedian reassess.

[A]

You know, you picture.

[B]

Yeah, I did, actually. And it feels like you're. You're.

[A]

Oh, yeah, that would absolutely be a British audience member to go, why are you with her then?

[B]

Yeah.

[A]

And you go, well, I guess I never. I guess I've never really like that. That one. There's crap.

[B]

There's probably a time where you loved her. Maybe you've grown too dark.

[A]

Yeah. There's the guy sitting on a stool going, God, we really were crazy about each other when we first got into this.

[B]

And the laughter is really, like, slow, and everyone's really deep.

[A]

But then also, I thought about it. Oh, God, she really. I used to get excited to see her. Now I wake up next to her and I think, who am I? And who is she?

[B]

Who is she and where are we?

[A]

Who. What is this whole dance?

[B]

I'm gonna go home and I'm gonna have a date with my wife.

[A]

I'm gonna take out the woman I fel. Comic gets redeemed in his set. You know what?

[B]

We gotta follow him.

[A]

I'm gonna make love to that woman on the kitchen floor the way we used to when we were young, broke, and hungry.

[B]

And then he opens the door and she's killed herself.

[A]

And you're like, that's. You know, what I love about British people more than anything is you guys deal with darkness in a way that is so casual that I genuinely enjoy it. Americans do this fake. Like, no, no. But like, British people, you go, it's very, like, off with his head. It's like a very. Like, you guys have this thing where. And I think it's because you are such an old country that was an empire that isn't an empire. You've done this. Expanding and retracting.

[B]

Yeah. I think, you know what's really interesting is, like, I don't know if this. If. Do you have, like, nursery rhymes in the UK that you. In the. In the US do you sing to babies?

[A]

Yeah. Absolutely.

[B]

So when you. And obviously, I'm in the beginnings of having to sing these songs that been passed down for generations. We've got. Do you have Three Blind Mice?

[A]

Yeah. Look how they run me.

[B]

I mean, but if you analyze that, like it's a thing. You're singing this to a sleeping baby. Three blind mice See how they run they all chased after the farmer's wife who cut off their tail with a carving knife. Did you ever see such a thing in your life as three blind mice? And I was like, this is a dark thing to sing to, by the way.

[A]

I don't know if we have. I think we stop at three Blind Lives, and then we kind of trail. Well, I don't know if we go to the part where the farmer's wife.

[B]

Is mutilated, but it comes because the. An English queen at the time. Like, I think some Protestants tried to kill her, some Catholics tried to kill her. So she had them killed publicly. And that is the song that it comes from. That.

[A]

That was the equivalent of horny guys telling a hot girl comedian that she was mia bella. But that's the original. Like.

[B]

But it's.

[A]

So then I saw that I wrote Three Blind Mice, and there you go.

[B]

But it's so weirdly English to kind of go. Or, you know, they tried to kill the queen. So I should probably sing about this to my babies just to let them know. Yeah, yeah.

[A]

Don't go trying to fucking kill the queen.

[B]

Yeah, yeah, exactly. And you go.

[A]

For context, little one, we're talking about the queen.

[B]

Yeah, yeah. She'll cut you.

[A]

She'll cut you.

[B]

What would you do in a way you could understand.

[A]

Yeah.

[B]

Say. Say you're a disabled mouse. And say you're.

[A]

Follow me now. Follow me.

[B]

So you're chasing a farmer's wife, but you disagree with the way that she looks at God. She will kill you.

[A]

Just to let you know.

[B]

Yeah. No, no, no.

[A]

That's like an old Brooklyn nursery rhyme. Was like, the envelope is light. The envelope is light. Put him in the river. And you're like, now that guy was ripping me off. So I taught him, you're gonna fucking die. But it is. Your guys is like the Empire brain of like, kind of that idea of like, you guys have such history. We're. We're still such a new country.

[B]

But then also, everyone loves America because it, like, Particularly at the minute. Like, it. It's so pulsatingly quick. You never know. Like, this is the only country in the world where a girl could become a millionaire and famous for saying hocked her.

[A]

I mean, like. But welcome to America, baby. Get to the front of the line, little lady. But she's got a podcast to make.

[B]

She said that she likes gobbing on dicks and America. Like, we're talking, like, One Direction levels of fame.

[A]

Yeah.

[B]

And it's that. That wouldn't happen in any other country in the world.

[A]

Everyone would go, like, what.

[B]

What this is.

[A]

Why would you say that publicly?

[B]

Yeah, yeah, exactly. Well, if it was in England, like, I like going on dicks. This is the noise I make when I do it, by the way. I just imagine, like, the BBC journalist going, well, we won't put that on TV because it's going to affect. You know, you'll probably lose your job and that'll be the end for you.

[A]

But here this girl goes, make me a meme coin. Yeah, I want to bankrupt a bunch of fucking idiots.

[B]

But it's just. It's so. So you. You end up looking at America from the outside. It's fascinating. It's so.

[A]

We are.

[B]

I saw. Mate. I saw a homeless man outside a hotel for dogs. Like, that is the man. The man has no home.

[A]

And the dogs are talking about 25th Street. I know the guy that sleeps out.

[B]

There, you know, he's just like.

[A]

You know what it is, is.

[B]

Dog's like, I need a break.

[A]

Yeah. And the guy's like, can I come inside? They go, we only let dogs.

[B]

Only if you dress up as a.

[A]

Labrador, black on his nose and ears. Can I sleep inside? Mr. We are the people.

[B]

Sometimes pick up my shit. Move along.

[A]

They work for the city.

[B]

Yeah.

[A]

They. That's what's funny is walking my dog in New York City. She tries to smell where there's like, shit or whatever. And then one time we're on Broadway and there was just clearly human diarrhea in the corner. And then every time we walked by there, my dog's like, I want to go there. And you go, I know it was there. And we're not going there. That was human waste. I think America is the world's monster truck rally. Like, we are like. We just do. Like, we're like, you ever see a truck turn into a T. Rex? And the world goes, why would we need to see that? And then America's like, do it. And it's like, you see Truckasaurus Rex breathing fire. We are the. You know, it's like, everything that is popular here, like soda, chips, everything is like, packaging. It's all, like, loud in your face.

[B]

Do you know what my. My friend Joe. Joe Maggio. He's like a director. He's a brilliant bloke. He's. He was in the gym the other day, and he. He noticed all the fast food adverts. It was all about things. You could get your pizza and put it in the dip, get a sandwich, put it in the dip.

[A]

Who doesn't love the dip?

[B]

Well, his thing was he thinks Donald Trump is the dip of America.

[A]

I wouldn't. You know what? If you. A hundred. I would 100% agree with that. If they go like, have you ever had chipotle horseradish? And you go, I wouldn't want to dip in that. And then you find the people around you going, I'll dip whatever the. I can get that is. I would. I would agree with that. I think Trump is, like.

[B]

It's that thing of, like, you kind of like, like, oh, well, who doesn't. It's interesting to try the dip. And he. That. His point was, like, that's the phase that you're kind of in at the minute of like. Well, we had four years of kind of like this invisible referee.

[A]

We're also in the age of. We love to say things are better for us than they actually are when we know that they're not good for us. Like Diet Coke. Yeah, Like, Diet Coke, you could argue is worse for you than regular Cokes because it's got aspartame. It's got, like, all this, like, all these carcinogenics and like, that. You're like, this is really bad for you. But. But there are people that are convinced that. They go, like, no, I'm drinking Diet Coke. Yeah, I'm fine. And you go, I don't really know if you are.

[B]

I. I'm clearly addicted to caffeine and.

[A]

Oh, yeah.

[B]

And it's that thing with Diet Coke where I read all those things and it's 100. You know, like, it's. It's carcinogenic. It's gonna kill you. And yet the phases.

[A]

I love McDonald's. Oh, Russell, you have no idea how much I love McDonald's.

[B]

Yeah.

[A]

And quick, quick secret for any of you that might be traveling to this wonderful country of ours, if you're ever on a road trip in the United States and you're on a Highway.

[B]

Yeah.

[A]

95 Boston, the Massachusetts Turnpike, a major highway, they have rest areas where you pull over and there's like, a Starbucks. And if there was a McDonald's at that location and you are hungry, eat that McDonald's. Because. Because. Highway, rest stop, McDonald's are the best McDonald's in the country.

[B]

Why?

[A]

Because of the turnover. Because people are coming in, so they're making the. Right then and there.

[B]

Yeah.

[A]

We had. Every Christmas, Katie and I drive to Chicago, then to Denver, and we drive all the way back. So we drive across the country.

[B]

Wow.

[A]

It's very fun with the dog. Yeah, it's a blast. We love doing it.

[B]

What do we do?

[A]

What?

[B]

We tune in with, like, are you planning your music?

[A]

Oh, we go. We go a lot of shuffle. We. We download new albums, see if one of us, you know. Like this car trip she got me into, Dochi, who's sick. I love that album. I got her into, like, a old Queens of the Stone Age album. We just do that. We kind of go like, have you heard this? Have you heard this? Sometimes we listen to podcasts and on people. It's kind of what we do. But we stopped in Ohio. We were, like, driving to Chicago, and we stop in Ohio and we're like, let's get McDonald's. We're hungry. And we pull off at this restaurant. And both of us were making noises while we were making this, where we were like. Like, just like a bite of a Big Mac. And you're like, It's like, it is, but we know it's bad. I know McDonald's is not real food.

[B]

Yeah.

[A]

But I love it. And that's just where Americans need to come together. We just need to go, yeah, it's bad for us.

[B]

Well, that's.

[A]

Love it.

[B]

That's what's interesting. It just feels like every. Like everything's very tribal here.

[A]

Yeah.

[B]

It feels like the only thing that's really tribal in the UK is. Is football.

[A]

Yeah.

[B]

Outside of that.

[A]

But you guys also do sports in a way that I wish we were better at, because I think you get it out of you.

[B]

You don't. What?

[A]

Yeah, with the songs, with. Even with. When you have people that fight, well, there's no violence.

[B]

That's the thing that's fascinating about American sports, that it's like. That I've seen. I've only, you know, I mean. But I've been to basketball, baseball, and American football, and it's all just very. I went to a soccer game, and it was. It was amazing moment where it was in la, Robbie Keane scored, and, yeah, the announcer went. The goal scorer, Robbie. And the whole crowd went, keen, Robbie, Keen. And then the guy went, thank you. And the whole crowd went, you're welcome. And it was just like, whoa. You could feel all the English people. There's about 10 of us in the room, in the ground. What the. Is it because football is so.

[A]

Well, it's your guys's thing.

[B]

Yeah. And it's. You're right, we kind of.

[A]

Like, you guys have had decades, if not hundreds of years to come up with songs.

[B]

Yeah.

[A]

With, like, when you. When you become a fan, you know.

[B]

There'S like a Beckham. Beckham.

[A]

It.

[B]

Like, it's so like, America's obsessed with him. And he. When he started going out with Victoria from the Spice Girls for the rest of his career in England, everyone would chant, does she take it up the ass? Does she take it? Does she take it? Does she take it up the ass? And this is one of the best footballers we've ever had.

[A]

Ever had. So you're saying, like, if Arsenal was playing Manu.

[B]

Absolutely.

[A]

They would be singing that against him over. Arsenal fans would be singing that non stop.

[B]

Non stop. Yeah. Yeah. Just constantly. And then you imagine if we did.

[A]

That with Travis Kelce and Taylor Swift.

[B]

This is what. This is my point. It was. It's. It's so fascinating seeing like. Like Taylor Swift made. I was here when she started going out with Travis Kelsey and she made the news because she went to watch him play football at. Janet Jackson had to get a tit out.

[A]

Yeah.

[B]

Like, the game has changed.

[A]

Yeah.

[B]

Like, it's so.

[A]

It's not. I really wish we had more honest aggressiveness with our sports, because we are.

[B]

Aggressive in everything other than sport.

[A]

That's what I mean. Like, and. And then they go like this fake thing of like, whoa, whoa, whoa, whoa. That's not sportsmanship. And you go, well, there's no sportsmanship in regular. Why are we doing it right here? Yeah, you guys have goons. You guys have a way of, like. You guys have a way of doing it where you go like, yeah, you have to. You have to get it out. You get it out of you. You go, like them. I don't like them. Die. And then you go home and you.

[B]

Go like, it's all forgotten about.

[A]

Yeah. You go like, hey, good to see you. Oh, yeah, You're a fan of Man City, right? You're like, yeah, you. We play you on Saturday. Like, here. It's like, if you do that, you're. They're like, whoa, whoa, whoa, whoa. You're a little aggressive, but it's.

[B]

It's. But it's the only thing that we're kind of tribal about in the uk. Like, you can be a bit. I mean, it's changes slightly, but you can be a bit More pick and mix. You can.

[A]

Yeah.

[B]

Take from different bits of the buffet. But it feels like here increasingly everything is like, you can be this or you could be that. I mean, you look at, like, even in comedy, it's like, you. Hey, are you. Are you one of these guys or are you one of those? And it's so silly.

[A]

There's no way you can, like both Joe Rogan and Andy Kindler and you're like, yeah, you could. Yeah, there's absolutely a world where you could, like, both.

[B]

And it just feels like, like so much great stand up kind of like billows between where you look at, like, Bill Burr. Like, Bill Burr could have a chat with, you know, Mike Babiglia and Rogan. Yeah, it's a great comic, but.

[A]

Exactly.

[B]

But it. And it's that, I don't know, it sort of increasingly it feels like, which side are you on?

[A]

Well, there's money. That's where I think you guys, you know, colonize the world.

[B]

Yes.

[A]

We do a different thing where we just. Everything we do, every action we make, there's a dollar attached to it. So, like, that's what I was talking about with marketing people coming into comedy is there's people that, like, you know, I know someone specifically that, like, saw someone I knew that wasn't doing comedy, saw me do comedy, and then came in and was like, oh, he's not marketing himself. He's not doing this and this and this. And then just was like, oh, I don't need to. I don't have to care about writing the jokes and doing the stand up. I'll just steal memes and fucking market it. And then now. And their audience doesn't care because their audience goes, oh, it's marketed well. It's like, oh, this is what I'm coming. I'm not coming for the jokes. And you're like, the whole point of stand up is to come for the jokes.

[B]

But that's the. But his. So my question to you would be, if you had that sort of, you know, this kind of, you know, that kind of wild fame, but you knew you weren't interested, would it be fun? I don't think it would, no.

[A]

I think that's also why American celebrities always go insane.

[B]

Yeah.

[A]

Because there isn't an exit. There's like, it's like a hallway without an exit. Like, they just keep going farther and farther down the hallway than they go. Like, I think I'm going fucking crazy. Whereas a lot of other things you can go, like, and go. And then take a left and then you're out of it. And you're like, that was nuts. We push people in America until they break. Britney Spears is the best example.

[B]

Yeah.

[A]

Where we just pushed her as a kid. She fucking snapped. Her family was like, hey, listen, we got to kind of watch out for. She's fucking nuts. And then everyone went, no, she needs her independence. And then they got her out of that. And then she's like, I'm going to dance with knives. And everyone was like, I don't know if we should have let her fucking on her own.

[B]

I've got. It's funny, I've got a bit in my special about that where it's. It's about how people are different.

[A]

Yeah.

[B]

And trying to meet in the middle. You know, people are different. Britney Spears, Nelson Mandela, very different people. They were both freed.

[A]

Yeah.

[B]

They just did different things with their freedom.

[A]

He's like.

[B]

But it creates this really.

[A]

I want to show you my dances with Knives. He goes, king, King. He's like, that's so funny. I am finally free to show you the same dance move every time. And you go like, what the fuck?

[B]

That is a good Mandela.

[A]

Thank you. That's a good.

[B]

Well, because when do you ever have the opportunity to put it up, brother?

[A]

I've watched speech of his.

[B]

This is what I mean.

[A]

Yeah.

[B]

This is what I'm on about. About the comics brain and the doctor's brain. I said nelson Mandela, and your brain went.

[A]

And you knew you had it.

[B]

One of my favorite things with. Not my current dog, but our previous dog, was to use him. And the voice that I give him.

[A]

That's the best part of having a.

[B]

Dog to say terrible things about.

[A]

Oh.

[B]

Just people in the street.

[A]

Son of Sam, baby.

[B]

Yeah, yeah, yeah.

[A]

It's talking to you.

[B]

It was. It. And it's funny. My. My wife would like. She'd love it. And then every so often, you know, the dog would go too far.

[A]

Yeah.

[B]

Can you not have him be like that?

[A]

Yeah.

[B]

And you're like, well, it's what he.

[A]

Is that we haven't. We don't have a good voice for Myrtle yet. We've tried. We did a little. She's free. She was. We adopted her from Tennessee. So we gave her, like, a Tennessee accent. But then we're like, nah. And she's got so much personality that it almost feels like she's offended when we give her a voice where she's like, I don't talk like that.

[B]

Yeah. It was weird. No, Arch was. He was very much like that. Sort of a Bit like Beckham.

[A]

Oh, yeah, quite.

[B]

You know, so it sounded cheeky, but it was very cutting.

[A]

Yeah.

[B]

And you're like, well, Jesus Christ, look at that mess over there.

[A]

You know, Our voice that didn't stick was a big fat black woman for our.

[B]

Okay. There's a theme.

[A]

She'd be like, I ain't eating that. It's dry. And then we're like, no, we can't do that to Myrtle. She's. She's a black dog. So chill out.

[B]

Yeah.

[A]

Keyboard warriors. But, yeah, I think that's like. That's my favorite part of being in a relationship is having, like, little bits with.

[B]

We have this thing me and my wife called the viewers, where there's this sort of fictitious audience that's always so, you know, if you say something a bit too much, you just turn to this sort of imaginary. I want to go, sorry about that, viewers.

[A]

That's.

[B]

And it's just kind of this.

[A]

That's great. That's a good insight. Yeah, yeah. We do a thing where whenever one of us gets something right, like we watch Jeopardy or whatever, if it's like something, we get something right, we'll shake hands. But then we do it for fake cameras. We'll go one for the tv, one for over there. Like, it's a press op. Yeah, we do press up and it's. And it brings me so much joy that we'll be in the middle of Target or something. She'll be buying something. She'll go great for the travel aisle.

[B]

So those are the moments, eh, of like, where you just. That you're. It's such deep, deep. I've got so many with my brother. Just these, like, non sequiturs about, like, you know, my granddad or my auntie, which. And it means nothing to anyone.

[A]

Yeah.

[B]

But if my brother goes, not her face.

[A]

Yeah.

[B]

It will always make me laugh.

[A]

Yeah.

[B]

And it means nothing, but it's that kind of like sort of almost like low level Tourette's where it's just comforting.

[A]

Sometimes I'll do it too much and she'll be like, all right, I got it.

[B]

Yeah. But you're like, no, no, I just need to say it over and over because.

[A]

Especially because I used to have a ton of those inside jokes with Big J on the bonfire. We did a radio show for eight years. So you have those. And then like when you're doing it on the radio, it's like fun. And it's always a bit. But in your relationship, you don't realize you're not on Air. So you, like, do it too much. And she's like, I've got a headache, and I woke up early. Like, I don't need to hear this. Right. And you're like, that's fair, but my stupid bitch wife. Am I right? Why did you. I'm going to. I'm going to be obsessively thinking about that this weekend. Just a British guy in the car going, like, then why did you marry her? Well, I never thought about it like that.

[B]

I don't know. I guess I've changed. Time is cruel. He's like, I remember watching Rathaniel, and I've. I found that so interesting because the audience, when he was talking about, you know, coming out to his mom, and the audience asked such deep questions.

[A]

Yeah.

[B]

And they're kind of like things like, do you think your mom would ever reconsider her thoughts to what? And it's. I. I just can't imagine that in England because I think, you know, I really like the special. But if he said those things, people be like, people would start around.

[A]

Yeah.

[B]

And. And trying to break the tension and go, how much longer is it going to be? Because it's like, just. And it feels. Wanted to know whether, like, any things were cut out, whether. Do you know what I mean?

[A]

Yeah. You know what's really funny is he. Gerard taped that at the Blue Note, which is a famous jazz place here in New York City. It's across the street from the Village Underground.

[B]

Oh, right.

[A]

Where all the spots are. And I was outside having a little smoke of the weed, and I was with a couple other comics. And the green room for the Blue Note is on the second floor.

[B]

Yeah.

[A]

Very lit up. And it's funny to be on the street with, like, a couple comics being like, oh, there's Jarrod. Oh, he's like, getting into the show. Like, watching him walking around the green room and get into it, you're like, I don't know if he knows we could see all that, but it's funny with someone doing, like, a deep special. And then we're just outside, like, why is he all serious? Yeah. Because we did. We weren't at the taping. We didn't know what he talked about.

[B]

What's he talking about?

[A]

Like, man, this guy takes his comedy real seriously. And then you watch a special and you go, right, right, right, right, right. He was coming out to his. His parents.

[B]

Yeah.

[A]

Got it. Okay.

[B]

It's.

[A]

Maybe we shouldn't have been talking about that, but you know what I mean?

[B]

But that's what I mean, it's that thing of like, the. That's what. Like, I. I just know so many people that say the unsayable. Like, so I keep. So my brother's just. I just find him so interesting because he's like absinthe in the way that a comic is like a nice bottle of red wine.

[A]

It's just.

[B]

But my brother's just too much. But some people, like, he's kind of like famous in the comedy scene in the UK because he's my brother. It's just this weird. Just a bit much.

[A]

Well, you have bits about him too.

[B]

Because he's just like. And I guess everyone's like this about their sibling, but we had this moment at Christmas where my aunties had like, UTIs. And if you have like a. Enough urinary infections, you kind of go slightly dulally and it's just. It's just a byproduct and then you have to get medication and calm it down. And I sort of said. I kind of. My mum said of my auntie, she was just talking about. And I went, yeah, but she's genuinely a bit crazy at the minute, isn't she? And my brother went. And ugly. And it was so.

[A]

It was so unnecessary timing, though.

[B]

But he. My mum put a knife and a fork down and. And just. It was so. And like, to me, when someone has the courage to be pointlessly mean for the sake of it, just for the joke, there's something to that. And. But you can't. You can't justify that.

[A]

I would call that my joie de vivre. I would call that my joy of life. I'd be like, yeah, because it's not for everyone, but.

[B]

But if it is like Bob Dylan, it goes deep.

[A]

Yes.

[B]

You know what I mean?

[A]

It's like, you know, I grew up an only child and my mom is great. I love my mom to death. She's one of the best people in her life. But she. She leaves open a lot of spaces to be made fun of.

[B]

Yeah. Yeah.

[A]

And when you're alone and by yourself, you can't really. Like. I can't on her. I can't make fun of her. My stepdad or whatever, when I had a stepdad, because he'd be like, that's my wife. What are you doing, kid? Yeah, but now I got Katie and Katie comes home with me and my mom will say something and I can like, give one of those.

[B]

Yeah.

[A]

Like that. And it's fun to finally have someone that goes like, that was hilarious. Yeah, you're like, yes. Or my mom will say something and I'll like, look at Katie and be like, yeah. And she'll be like, I don't know.

[B]

Yeah.

[A]

And it's just great to have a. You growing up with your brother like that. You had a partner. You had like a sounding board.

[B]

I remember there was. There was a really vivid. And again, this is the Mandela effect. Because the way I remember it is so different.

[A]

Yeah.

[B]

But my. So I'm 8, my brother is 6, and we are cleaning out my sister's rabbit hutch. And my sister is inside the house with my mum having a hot chocolate. This is her animal.

[A]

Yeah.

[B]

And me and my brother have sort of all the. Picking up all the newspaper with rabbit piss and on it. And my brother, age 6, looks at me and goes, it's not even our animal. And. And it was this really adult moment where we're smoking in it.

[A]

Yeah.

[B]

And it's just like. I guess it's just that's what happens if you're a man in this family. And it was.

[A]

Well, it's also like, you know, it's funny is. It's like your nephew at 10 being like, show off. Shut the breast. Is he off the breast?

[B]

Not even our beast. It just. I don't know.

[A]

Yeah. Those are the moments that I, as an only child, I really, really wish I would have had. Because you kind of, like. You have this. Like, there's someone in the foxhole with you and you.

[B]

So funny.

[A]

You turn around, you go like, this is fucked up.

[B]

So comedy for you. Must have been, because I sort of. The longer you do it, you realize basically a laugh means that you're not mad because it's. It's. I think so you must have had years thinking you were mad.

[A]

Well, I would.

[B]

But you had trouble at school. Yeah, of course.

[A]

Because that's where I could get it out.

[B]

Yeah.

[A]

I could. If I. Like. My favorite thing in the world was getting kicked out in the hallway.

[B]

Yeah.

[A]

Because it meant I was. I was killing.

[B]

Yeah.

[A]

I meant. It meant the teacher was losing control of the class.

[B]

Yeah.

[A]

Because I was doing. I was being funny. And so when they'd be like, dance order out in the hallway right now. You get the fuck.

[B]

I know. Yes. I. I had this amazing conversation with a German teacher of my Frau Kindler, and she sort of said. Because she sent me out, and she was like, I don't understand you. You know, you're bright, but you just won't shut the. You know, she was like, what? And I said to her, I Said I. I'm not in control of it. You. You leave so many mistakes.

[A]

Yes.

[B]

And I feel like I have to say it and I don't want to say it, but it makes me feel good. And I hit her with like, such honesty. She was like, okay, fair enough. And it was like this again. It was like this really adult moment where you like, going, look, I'm not a dick. I'm just fucking around. I can't help it. I know it's pathetic, but it makes me feel good and I'm sorry.

[A]

And a lot of teachers will get that. I remember a lot of teachers being like, a little more graceful to me because I was funny.

[B]

Yeah.

[A]

They're like, listen, like, I was friends with the bad kids who were like setting shit on fire or like pulling fire alarms, but I was like, witty. So they were like, why are you doing this? And you're like, because it's fun. And they're like, okay, okay, fine. I get that it's fun because they could see that I was making the class laugh. If I. If you're like, if you're doing something like that and no one's laughing, then you're just like, crazy.

[B]

Yeah, but that's what I mean. It's sort of that thing of that. So presumably you must have felt crazy at home because if your mum is saying these really wild things, you, in your brain, you're like, God, that's so funny. God, if I had a sister or a brother where you could just. Just being able to look at each.

[A]

Other and get a laugh and.

[B]

But during, during dinner, like there was this moment during Christma where my mum, she sort of said, I just, I really want to get jacked this Christmas. I. I'd like to get jacked. And with. And without meaning to be funny. It's the beauty of my mum. She was like, come on, Daniel to my brother went, let's, let's you and me, let's. Let's have a jack off competition. And you're like going. And it's just this moment where you just get to your brother and you're like, gonna have a jack off competition with mom, are you? And scene.

[A]

Yeah, I had one specifically. So when I would come home from college, my mom would cook dinner for me and my friends. You know, I was, I've been friends with the same group of guys since I was like 12 years old. And my buddy Danny and one of my other friends were over eating dinner and my mom said something and she meant to say like, oh, I'm A. I'm a bit anal retentive, but it was her and her new boyfriend Keith or whatever. And. And I remember she goes, oh, that's just me being anal. And I go, jesus. Already giving it up to the guy. Like that. And, dude, my friend was like, down here to, like, walk away. He was like, what the. And my mom was like, daniel. And you're like. You're like, okay, first off, don't hang that fastball over the plate if I'm not taking it. Yard. I'm going deep with that one.

[B]

But it's like anal.

[A]

Hey, that was fun.

[B]

But it is that. That. That's. God, you must have felt so great.

[A]

It was just. I mean, there's moments. But again, what's great about my mom is the thing that saved me. She's got a great sense of humor. Yeah. So when I was. When she would say something and I would say it's funny, even if she was embarrassed, she'd be like, that's really funny. But don't. You know, she would, like, check it.

[B]

Yeah.

[A]

I might not get the laugh that I would get with a sibling, but she would go like, that's funny. And you're like, okay, good. Yeah. Because I didn't want to do something in her.

[B]

Does she watch you do stand up?

[A]

Yeah.

[B]

Did your nan. What you do stand up?

[A]

No, I don't think so. I think someone showed my grandma one clip of my Conan.

[B]

Right.

[A]

But I don't think she ever did. And then she died last March. And so, you know, we're talking about doing the same bits or whatever. I've had, like, on two out of three of the specials I did, I had bits about my grandmother. And then now my whole closer is about her dying because it's, like, crazy to go through by yourself. Or, you know, I had my cousin Lisa, but that was it. Like, two of us had to deal with all that. And it really is, in my mind, comedically like a nice bookend where you're like. And there you go. And I won't have any more bits about her.

[B]

Yeah.

[A]

Because she ain't walking the planet. Yeah, but.

[B]

But it. But it's funny, isn't it? It's that thing of. Because I remember you. You spoke really fondly about her. Wasn't she really into boxing?

[A]

Yeah, she liked sports. She really, really likes sports. That would.

[B]

No, no. The I'm. But I did different stories. The story I love about you. I don't know if you've ever done this as stand up, but what you were when you were doing billions. You had to have a boxing competition.

[A]

Oh, yeah.

[B]

And you know how to box. And it was killing you.

[A]

Oh, no, there was a.

[B]

Because you couldn'.

[A]

Well, there was a guy. There was like, I'm not good at boxing. I love boxing, but I'm not, like, good at it in any way. I don't have any skills, but I can throw a punch. And this. The. The stunt coordinator, this guy that we brought in, there was a guy that choreographed a fight who was unbelievable. He, like, worked in Boxing Corners Matt. It was unbelievable. And Matt taught Kelly and I all this stuff, and he really. But then they brought in this. The guy that did all the stunts for the show. So he wasn't the guy we were working with.

[B]

Right, Matt.

[A]

The. The guy we were working with did fight scenes with Matt Damon and, like, these big fight scenes where he choreographed him. So we had everything choreographed.

[B]

Yeah.

[A]

Where you're like, all right, you're gonna slip. And then. So we wanted to make it look really bad. And then they bring in this stunt guy who wasn't on set with us, who did not know anything, and he's like, all right, you guys are gonna do this. This. I got stunt doubles for you guys. And that's heartbreaking. And. And I was like, oh, okay. And he's like. I think he thought we were just, like, wusses.

[B]

Yeah. Yeah.

[A]

Because he goes. He brings in one guy, and he goes, this is for Kelly o', Coyne, who played Bill Stern. Dollar Bill, he's like, this is Kelly, stunt double. Try to throw a punch on him. And I was like, what? And we're in the ring with gloves on, and he goes, go. I can just throw punches on this guy. And I think he thinks I'm, like, a musical theater guy. Like, I'm gonna be like. And I was like, I can throw a punch. And the guy didn't believe me. He was like, yeah, you're fine. This is a pro. And I was like, all right. And he's like, I mean, really haul off on him if you want. And I was like, you're sure about this, right? And we were at. We were at. We were in Brooklyn at a boxing gym, and I was like, like, okay. And so then we start. And I. I'm like, I'm throwing hooks at this guy's head, and he's blocking it, and he left his stomach uncovered, and I landed one on him, and he went like that. The guy was like, all right, all right, all right, all right. And you're like, dude, what did you think was gonna happen.

[B]

Wow.

[A]

And it was just funny because you were like. You saw him basically be like, you guys are, yeah, yeah, yeah, go ahead. And then you hit him. And the guy was like, ah, ah. I didn't mean that. And then he got kind of like. Like, shitty with me. He's like, all right, all right. You didn't need to, like, hit him in the stomach. I was like, I asked you if I could throw a punch, and then I unintentionally broke Kelly's rib while we were filming the thing, because they were like, oh. Then I just started throwing it, and then I caught Kelly. And then after one, we were going back. Like, they. They broke down. They had to, like, reset the cameras or whatever. So we got sent to our trailers, and Kelly's walking, and he goes, I think you got me. And I was like, no way. And then I broke his rip, it turned out. And I was like, he. But then I also found that stunt coordinator, and I was like, told you I could punch. Yeah, like, I hurt my friend, but I told you I could throw him, right? But that guy. That guy came on and was like. He basically was like, what's up, queer? You can't throw a punch. And you're like, I can.

[B]

Yeah.

[A]

And the guy was really nice. The stunt guy was like, ah, No, I get it, dude. I heard him. He. He said. Said, go 100.

[B]

How do you get a job where you just don't even, like, try? Well, the guy, like, you're just, oh, just do that. Fine. Fine.

[A]

And I think he thought. I don't think he understood what we were really doing, because Matt had it, like, choreographed. And when we came in, Matt, again, Matt was like, a pro trainer. He, like, worked with, like, Angelo Dundee. He worked with, like, these big trainers or whatever. And when this guy came in, Matt kept looking at us like, this guy. What is this guy talking about? Because Matt would be like, no, no, I have them where they're gonna. They're gonna. They're gonna hug and then push, throw a couple punches. He's like, no, no, no, no, no. We'll do it like this. It's. It really was the most American thing where a guy came in and goes, nah. You guys playing that? No, this is what we're gonna do. And both Kelly and I were like, we've been working on this for, like, two weeks. Yeah, but shout out that guy for getting hit in the stomach and being cool about it, because I think that guy probably would have beat my ass.

[B]

If you want, right?

[A]

If you would have turned it back at that stunt guy if you would.

[B]

Have turned it back on and if he'd have gone. And now you are.

[A]

Yeah, I would have gone, like, shelled up.

[B]

Like, I've never, like, boxed properly, but I've kind of. I used to go to this gym where it was called 12 3. And you did 12 things that would sort of like skipping.

[A]

Yeah, you know, like, oh, dude, boxers are in incredible shape.

[B]

Hell, to do 12 rounds of three, even, like, with a punch back and then have just a minute break, do that.

[A]

But.

[B]

And that's without even getting hit.

[A]

Yeah, it's. Can you imagine boxers, even people that want to shit on Jake Paul for, like, boxing and being like, ah, it's not real or whatever. You're like, he might be fighting older guys. That is very true. But he's still, like, putting in the work. Like, the guy can box.

[B]

Yeah, but. But also it's the stamina and the kind of getting hit. And, like, that's why I love the.

[A]

Fury family, because you watch them and they're all like. Like, Gypsy, not bear, nothing. I interviewed him, really.

[B]

So he was on my TV show, and it was one of the most surreal moments of my life because he goes, you know JLo? I went, what? Jennifer Lopez? You know her? No, no. He went, I thought you would. And he grabbed my phone and went.

[A]

Is she in your phone?

[B]

I was like, are you under the belief. Did you come on this show because you thought I was a gateway to JLo, to JLo? And he was like, well, who'd you know? And he was like, looking at. Who's Greg? My friend Greg. Does he know? Nobody knows. J.

[A]

That's so funny. Why are you. Tyson? Why do you Want to know JLo?

[B]

But he's 6 foot 7. He's kind of looming over me, and he wants Jennifer Lopez. And I'm like, I don't know.

[A]

That's my favorite thing about Tyson Fury is he's so big that when he sings after his songs, occasionally you'll see the guy, whoever's microphone, he goes, no, you can't. Okay, you're good.

[B]

Yeah, well, exactly.

[A]

He takes the mic and he's like.

[B]

How many karaoke bars have wanted to shut? And the guy's gone. It's, you know, it's a bit like when you do, like, a university gig and it's students who are doing the security. This gig's going. As long as it happens, no one's shut. Okay. Fight, Sweet Carolina.

[A]

It's just like, okay. Oh, no. Do the Whole Armageddon soundtrack. No, that's fantastic. That's incredible. The special is out. This is going to come out?

[B]

Yeah. When. When is this out?

[A]

This is going to come out either next week or two weeks. So the special will be out, so the specials out. So you can, you can stream.

[B]

You can stream it.

[A]

Russell Howard.com Russell/.

[B]

Howard.co.uk.

[A]

Oh, you.

[B]

English.

[A]

Russell Slash Howard.

[B]

Yeah.

[A]

Well, we'll put it. By the way, if you're probably watching this on YouTube, if you're listening to it, it'll be in the description on YouTube. We'll put the link right there in the bio. Smash that link below. But yeah, I mean, this is number eight. Number eight, dude. Number eight. And then where you. Where you filmed it somewhere. Awesome.

[B]

I filmed it at the Palladium. So we did. We did a London Palladium. We did a bunch of shows there. And it's, it's just. It's probably similar. I've not done the Beacon, but it's how I hear. It's like this. It's like a 2000 series. The three tears. They're kind of on you.

[A]

The Beacon Theater is my favorite theater in New York.

[B]

Yeah.

[A]

Well, because it's just basically a straight wall of people.

[B]

Yeah. It's sort of like. It's, it's the, the only one. I've, I've done the Town hall here.

[A]

Yeah.

[B]

Which I loved as well. That felt like a really, like.

[A]

Yeah, you're really on top of them. Yeah.

[B]

But it's. I've been super lucky with New York. I've only ever done. I did the Gramercy.

[A]

Great.

[B]

Which is a great. Again, it's like it. The laugh just comes back to you. But it's small enough that you can. It's. You know what I mean?

[A]

Yeah. But a ton of great specials have been taped at the Gramercy.

[B]

Yeah.

[A]

And then the Gramercy, Beacon and Town hall are all three great venues. But London Palladium is pretty awesome.

[B]

I was nice, man. It's. It's just a good room. And, you know, it's sort of like when you do shows in arenas. I've never taped a show in an arena because, like, when you're at home, the laugh is like. I mean, this is. It's too long.

[A]

Yeah.

[B]

And you sound like a dick for saying that, but it's that.

[A]

Yeah. You gotta wait for it to come back to you.

[B]

And so you're sat on your sofa going, huh?

[A]

Yeah. Why are they waiting? Yeah. Yeah. Whereas a theater is right on Especially when they're right on top of you. Like. Yeah, it's pretty gross. Great.

[B]

But it's also that thing of you. I don't know. You can just be a bit calmer.

[A]

Yeah.

[B]

2,000. It's like, I kind of watched. I watched Nate Bargazi special the other day.

[A]

But he, you know.

[B]

But it's really working with him. But what's really great about that is that he's so calm.

[A]

Yeah.

[B]

In. In an arena that he plays it not dissimilar to Chappelle. Where you go. It's so interesting to see somebody play a room and be themselves in the room, irrespective of the room.

[A]

Do you know what I mean?

[B]

You see some people like, hello, I'm trying to fill the space.

[A]

Yeah. You know, that would probably be me. I think that's the energy I have in an arena. But watching Nate, he really is. He's always himself.

[B]

Yeah.

[A]

He's just always himself. And it's great. But I think I like a special in the theater because it does. As a fan of comedy, because it does feel like it's in a. Right there. Yeah. And are you gonna take. Now that you've done this hour, are you taking the time off?

[B]

So. No. So basically, I've got. I'm doing some shows in Europe, so I'm in Helsinki in a week's time.

[A]

That's sick.

[B]

It's great. But it's also that thing of. It's so. Like, I was. I was. Somebody was asking me, are you doing spots while you're in New York? And you're like, I'm doing Helsinki in a week. So I don't think anything that works here is gonna work. Like, do you know what I mean?

[A]

Helsinki, you get this. And they're like, like.

[B]

But it's. It's. It's like gigging in Scandinavia. It's so close to us, but so different in England.

[A]

Oh, yeah.

[B]

But it's so. Honestly, you've got to do it, man. It's so much fun.

[A]

Oh, I would love to. I would love. I mean, we've been talking about going to Sweden. I went to Sweden on a vacation in 2018, and I want to go back there so bad.

[B]

But the. But also your stuff would work great. And this. The. The. It's even that thing, like doing. Doing a 400 seater in New York as an English person is so exciting. And it'd be the same as you. If you're doing a 400 seater in Sweden, they're listening to you in their second language. And they're laughing and. And you pick up little bits and you just. There's something about doing comedy in different kind of cultures. They've got a thing in Norway called a venta pulsar.

[A]

Yeah.

[B]

Which is a waiting sausage. So if you keep a Norwegian waiting, they will eat a hot dog.

[A]

So that's hilarious.

[B]

As far as excuses for gluttony go.

[A]

But I love that. Well, there's a big.

[B]

This. It's that sort of street level knowledge about. There's something about being in a place and you sort of. I don't know, your observational skills are just a little bit more heightened because you are on holiday and you notice a thing and you're like, we don't have this here. And suddenly.

[A]

That's what I loved about when I did the Soho Theater.

[B]

You're great. The thing about that, though. So you were walloping that and then you got ill. Yeah.

[A]

And I had to cancel two out of the show because of the hay fever. I was there on the hottest day in the history of London. Yeah, that was. That felt crazy.

[B]

But hay fever brought you down.

[A]

But I had hay fever and I went over with a head cold and I woke up one day and I was like. And I was like, I get.

[B]

I get hay fever. And my gay friend said that it's. It's the gayest of all the females.

[A]

But it's like.

[B]

But it's like.

[A]

Yeah, exactly.

[B]

Dengue Scarlet. Hey.

[A]

Hi. What? You.

[B]

What, are you allergic to flowers?

[A]

Dude. I will say, ever since Michelle Wolf introduced US back in 2019, you are one of the funniest, one of the greatest dudes that I know. I was so happy that you were like, I'm gonna be in New York. I was like, please come do the podcast. This is great. The hour is out now. Check out Russell. Go check out. If you've never heard of. Go check out all the other seven specials. He's fucking incredible. I look very.

[B]

I look very different.

[A]

First time I saw you in Edinburgh was before we had met and. And you came to my show and we DM'd, and you were like, oh, here's tickets to my show. And I went. And you fucking murdered. In a way, it was so fun to watch. But you don't know a guy and you go like, yeah, I'll go check your show out. And you walk out, you. This theater is giant.

[B]

Yeah.

[A]

Murdered.

[B]

But it's not. Funny thing, isn't it, where you kind of. You. It's like, again, it goes back to that thing of I Remember seeing your show and it was funny. And that. That bit about smoking Marlborough.

[A]

Yeah. And playing with my.

[B]

Playing with wrestlers.

[A]

But.

[B]

But it's such. It was such a great bit of like. And just. I really remember that line of, like, barbie's not doing too well. It was so funny. Yeah, but. And it was. And. And you instantly. That's the cool thing about the brotherhood, Sisterhood of. Of stand up. You. When you. You see somebody like, oh, that person's hilarious.

[A]

Yeah.

[B]

I want to be that person's friend. And it was the same with Michelle.

[A]

Yeah.

[B]

And because Jimmy Carr had basically said, oh, she's in Edinburgh. She doesn't know anybody. Go and say hello.

[A]

Yeah.

[B]

So I kind of was like, oh, Jimmy said. And then you see her and you're like, me, she's funny.

[A]

Yeah, it's great. That's always.

[B]

But it's that thing where you kind of. Then suddenly. So I saw your show and I was like, oh, come and see my show. Because I wanted you to, like, trust me, dude. But. But I knew that was a better way of getting you to like me is if you saw me do stand up than if you're like, if we met. If we met, it would be so, like, all right, how'd you get Hannah?

[A]

I'm funny. I like jokes. Yeah. Do you like jokes? Yeah. Watching you, you're like, oh, this guy can ball.

[B]

Yeah.

[A]

It's just kind of like that thing where you're like, all right.

[B]

Yeah.

[A]

And I think there is like a. That. That's a great way to start friendship is mutual respect. It's just kind of like this, like, oh, yeah, I love what you do.

[B]

Well, I remember years because a lot.

[A]

Of business friendships are people faking it.

[B]

And be like, oh, but it's also I, again, I. That's something that I get in my way of. I remember years ago at Montreal, so I was not familiar with, you know, Chappelle and Chappelle shows wasn't a thing in the uk. So we saw him do. I went to watch him do some gigs with Jimmy Carr in Montreal. This would have been at the beginning of, you know, when he came back.

[A]

And was doing like, 0405.

[B]

This guy's funny.

[A]

Yeah.

[B]

Who is this? Like, you know what I mean?

[A]

Oh, that's the best man finding out. I remember the first time I ever saw Kyle Kanane. We were doing this show for Comedy Central called Live at Gotham, and everyone came in for the whole season and ran their. Their thing at. At this old club. And Kyle Kanane did his spot, and I was like, oh, this guy is hilarious. Yeah, he's just brilliant. But the special is out now. Go to the website, stream it. Watch everything Russell's done. Thank you for coming on the show.